Fang Village has a history of more than six hundred years. One day, the traveling peddler Fang Caifu suddenly disappears, leaving behind his wife, Jiang Lan, and their five-year-old son, Fang Ping.
That day, Fang Caifu finished breakfast, hoisted his peddler's wares, and set out. He never came back. His wife and son waited for him at the entrance to the village day after day, but all they found was pain and disappointment, again and again.
By a twist of fate, Fang Caifu ended up in Dongyang Town, where he had a son with Tao Xiaohong, the daughter of the Tao family. They named the boy Tao Xing.
Fang Ping and his mother depended on each other as they struggled to get by. After his mother died, Fang Ping had no choice but to beg for a living. He was kidnapped and sold to a wealthy landowner's family, where he became a young master's study companion. Bright and eager to learn, Fang Ping received instruction tailored to his abilities from the private tutor, and soon became a man of great learning. Later, while searching for the missing young master, he traveled to the bustling capital. Curious, he took the imperial examinations for the first time. His outstanding literary talent earned him the title of top scholar, personally awarded by the emperor. He later became the prefect of Luoyang.
Though Tao Xing was born into a wealthy family and spoiled from childhood, he was the apple of Tao Xiaohong's eye and a cherished grandson to Grandma Mo. Tao Xing was idle and carefree, spending his days carousing and chasing women. By chance, he met Jin Lan, the daughter of a prince from the capital, while traveling with her to Suzhou for Aunt Jin's sixtieth birthday. Tao Xing fell for Jin Lan and became lovesick.
Time passed. For thirty-five years, Tao Xiaohong kept Fang Caifu under the control of her medicine. Then one day, Fang Caifu suddenly came to his senses and remembered his former wife, Jiang Lan, and their son. One cold winter morning, he finally found Jiang Lan's grave. Heartbroken and full of remorse, he took his own life at her grave, leaving behind a blood letter stained with tears.
